Gender issues in pulse cultivation in plateau ecosystems of Eastern India

Abstract

Pulses are an indispensable part of the Indian diet and its domestic demand will be about 32 million tons by 2030. Women throughout the world, and particularly in the plateau ecosystems of India, contribute a lot to pulse production. This study was undertaken during the years 2018-19 and 2019-20 to identify gender issues in pulse production process in plateau ecosystems of Eastern India. Ninety farm families were selected in multistage sampling method to find out participation of women, their decision making capacity and constraints faced while performing as a pulse grower. It was found that women participation was more in all activities except for land preparation, fertilizer and pesticides application. Decision making capacity of farm women is gradually increasing in the production process. Lack of crop insurance provision and absence of assured marketing system were perceived as the major constraints in pulse production.